Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Brother Jing, let's get a divorce.

The night was dark and windy, and the wind in Zhongnan Mountain carried a chill.

Outside the gate of the Quanzhen Sect, several crooked trees groaned under their weight, and several white, fleshy strips hung from their swaying shadows.

"Waaaaah..."

A suppressed sob came from the tree, like a duck whose mouth had been gagged.

Lu Qingdu felt that he had never been so humiliated in his life.

He was like a fat pig waiting to be slaughtered, stripped naked, hanging upside down on a tree branch. His fat body trembled in the cold wind, swaying back and forth.

Not only him, but also several of his gossipy junior brothers who usually hung out with him were hanging on the trees nearby.

The most alarming thing was that, by the moonlight, one could clearly see that on each person's white belly, three large characters had been written in thick ink.

The middle character was even bolded.

--gossip.

Yang Guo squatted on a rock under a tree, playing with a wolf-hair brush in his hand, occasionally dipping it in ink, like a strict private tutor scrutinizing his student.

"Senior Brother Lu, how's your handwriting?"

Yang Guo asked with a smile, "I deliberately used the form of Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy and the strength of Liu Gongquan's calligraphy, which, combined with your plump body, truly complements each other perfectly."

Lu Qingdu twisted and turned desperately, his mouth stuffed with a smelly sock, only able to make "woo-woo" sounds. His face was covered in tears and snot, and there was no trace of the arrogance he had displayed in the teahouse during the day.

"Don't move, the ink's not dry yet." Yang Guo stood up and poked Lu Qingdu's belly with the pen handle, causing the fat to ripple. "Weren't you quite the talker during the day? Saying I practiced martial arts by sleeping with women?"

Lu Qingdu's eyes were filled with terror as he shook his head frantically.

"Since you all enjoy gossiping so much, I'll help you spread your fame." Yang Guo casually tossed his brush aside. "These words will hang here for at least three days and three nights. If anyone dares to wash them off, I won't write anything next time."

He leaned closer to Lu Qingdu's round face, his voice suddenly turning cold: "Next time, I'll cut off your gossipy tongue and use it as a snack with my drinks."

Lu Qingdu rolled his eyes and was so scared he wet himself.

A foul odor flowed down from the upside-down body and landed directly on his face.

"Ugh, so dirty."

Yang Guo took two steps back in disgust, then turned and left. Killing this kind of scum would be too dirty for his hands; this social punishment was worse than death itself.

As Yang Guo climbed the mountain path, he passed a side hall and smelled a strong odor of alcohol.

He paused, a smile playing on his lips.

Pushing open the door, one sees a Taoist priest slumped on the ground in the dim light, holding a wine jar in his hands, his face flushed, muttering something incoherently.

"Dragon... Dragon Girl... Hehe..."

It was Yin Zhiping.

Yang Guo's eyes instantly darkened. This bastard, all he ever dreams about is eating shit.

"Master, you seem to be in high spirits."

Yang Guo leaned against the door frame and spoke in a sinister tone.

Yin Zhiping's body stiffened abruptly, as if struck by lightning. He turned his neck extremely slowly, and the pupils of his drunken, hazy eyes contracted sharply the moment he saw Yang Guo.

"Yang...Yang Guo?!"

Yin Zhiping slammed the wine jar in his hand to the ground with a clatter, spilling wine all over the floor.

He used both his hands and feet to shrink back until his back was against the corner of the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.

"You... what do you want to do? I am your master!" Yin Zhiping's voice trembled, and his terrified appearance was even more pathetic than Lu Qingdu's earlier.

Yang Guo looked at the trembling quail in front of him and sneered inwardly.

Installed.

Continue assembling.

Zhao Zhijing, that idiot, dared to jump out and bite people. How could you, Yin Zhiping, a leading third-generation disciple of the Quanzhen Sect, be so frightened?

This acting is so good, it's a real shame it doesn't deserve an Oscar.

"What are you afraid of, Master?" Yang Guo walked over slowly. "I just caught a few pigs at the foot of the mountain and happened to be passing by, so I came in to pay my respects."

"Hang...hang a pig?" Yin Zhiping swallowed hard, his face turning pale.

"Yes, a few gossipy pigs." Yang Guo squatted down, his gaze level with Yin Zhiping's. "Master, do you think these kinds of people should be punished?"

Yin Zhiping trembled all over, as if he had suddenly sobered up, and knelt down on the ground with a thud, his forehead pressed tightly against the ground.

"They deserve to be punished! They deserve it!" Yin Zhiping's voice trembled with tears. "Guo'er, your master... your master didn't say anything! Your master has been reflecting on his mistakes behind closed doors these past few days and knows nothing about what's happening outside!"

Yang Guo looked at the undignified man at his feet, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

The more cowardly Yin Zhiping appeared, the more wary Yang Guo became.

A dog that bites doesn't bark.

The more this guy can endure now, the more ruthless his counterattack will be in the future.

"It's best if you don't know." Yang Guo reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "Master, drink less wine. Too much wine makes you talk nonsense. What if you accidentally let something slip one day, or..."

Yang Guo leaned close to his ear, his voice barely audible: "Or perhaps you've harbored thoughts you shouldn't have. The sword in my hand doesn't have eyes."

Yin Zhiping lowered his body even further, trembling like a leaf, not daring to lift his head.

"I understand...I understand..."

Only after Yang Guo's footsteps faded into the distance and disappeared completely into the night did Yin Zhiping slowly raise his head.

The fear and drunkenness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a deathly stillness and chill.

"Yang Guo..."

He murmured softly, his fingernails digging deeply into the cracks in the brickwork.

……

Chongyang Palace was brightly lit.

The Seven Masters of Quanzhen sat around a prayer mat, the atmosphere heavy.

The door to the main hall was kicked open.

A cold wind blew in, causing the candlelight to flicker.

Yang Guo swaggered in, didn't bother with formalities, and simply sat down on an empty prayer mat, crossing his legs.

"Dear senior uncles and elders, why aren't you sleeping so late at night? Are you cultivating immortality?"

Qiu Chuji frowned, about to reprimand him for his lack of manners, but then he remembered the boy's current strength and status and swallowed his words.

"Guo'er." Ma Yu, being the sect leader, still possessed considerable composure. "Was it you who handled the matter at the mountain gate?"

Clearly, some disciples had already tipped off the Quanzhen disciples.

"It was me," Yang Guo readily admitted. "It doesn't matter if those gossipy women ruin my reputation, but it would be a real sin if they damaged the reputation of the Quanzhen Sect. I'm just cleaning up the mess for my sect."

"Nonsense!"

Sun Bu'er finally couldn't hold back any longer. She was the only woman among the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, and her temperament was the most impatient and rigid.

"Even if they are wrong, the Discipline Hall will handle it! How can you strip them naked and hang them outside the mountain gate? What kind of decorum is this? If outsiders see this, how will the reputation of my Quanzhen Sect be preserved?"

"Face?" Yang Guo scoffed, his eyes suddenly sharpening. "Uncle-Master Sun, you're talking to me about face now? Where was the Quanzhen Sect's face when Zhao Zhijing betrayed the country? Where was my face when those disciples were gossiping about me in the teahouse?"

"You—" Sun Bu'er was speechless with anger.

"Alright!" Qiu Chuji waved his hand, interrupting the argument. "Although Guo'er went too far, it was understandable. These are turbulent times, and those disciples spoke recklessly; they certainly deserve to be punished."

He looked at Yang Guo with a complicated expression: "But... Guo'er, what Zhao Zhijing said before he left, about you, the Red Serpent Fairy Li Mochou, and Ouyang Feng, the Western Poison..."

"It's this again." Yang Guo picked at his ear impatiently. "Would you believe me if I said no?"

The entire room fell silent.

Obviously, nobody believed it.

"Whether it is true or not," Sun Bu'er said coldly, "you are a disciple of Quanzhen Sect, yet you associate with evil and heretical sects every day. This is ultimately not the right path! In my opinion, you should immediately move back to Chongyang Palace, sever all ties with them, and focus on cultivating the Dao!"

That old Taoist nun is really meddling in other people's business.

Yang Guo sneered inwardly. "You want me to move back? To live with you bunch of old fogies, chanting scriptures and eating vegetarian food? What about my harem then?"

"Uncle-Master Sun, I don't like what you're saying." Yang Guo stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced around the main hall, beginning his performance.

"Why am I going to the back mountain? Isn't it to better comprehend the sword intent left behind by Patriarch Chongyang!"

Yang Guo looked heartbroken and looked up at the portrait of Wang Chongyang in the center of the hall, tears welling up in his eyes.

"I'm stuck in Chongyang Palace. Today this senior brother is jealous, tomorrow that junior brother is trying to trip me up. I want to practice swordsmanship, but I have to be wary of being assassinated. How can talent emerge in such an environment? How can the prestige of Quanzhen be restored?"

He whirled around, pointing to his chest: "I went to the forbidden area in the back mountains to find a quiet place! To hone my swordsmanship on the edge of life and death! Do you think I wanted to face that ruthless female demon every day? I endured humiliation for the sake of the Quanzhen Sect!"

These words were spoken with such righteous indignation that they completely fooled the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

Yes.

Since the passing of its founder, Chongyang, the Quanzhen Sect has indeed declined with each generation. Now that they have finally produced Yang Guo, if he is forced to leave by his own people, then it will truly be over.

"But..." Sun Bu'er wanted to say something more.

"There's no 'buts' about it," Yang Guo interrupted her directly. "As long as I, Yang Guo, am alive, the Quanzhen Sect will not allow itself to be slandered or bullied. As for where I am, that's my private matter. If you elders don't even have this much tolerance, then you might as well not be Quanzhen disciples!"

After saying that, Yang Guo flicked his sleeves, turned around, and left.

"Please continue your conversation, everyone. I need to go back and 'bear the burden of humiliation'."

The hall fell into a deathly silence as Yang Guo's departing figure was watched.

After a long silence, Hao Datong sighed, "This boy... is far too arrogant."

"He is arrogant, but he has the right to be arrogant." Wang Chuyi's expression was complicated. "In that battle a few days ago, if it weren't for him, we old bones would probably all be dead."

"The world is in chaos now, and the Mongols are eyeing us covetously," Qiu Chuji said in a deep voice. "If the Quanzhen Sect wants to establish itself in this chaotic world, it cannot rely solely on maintaining the status quo."

These words immediately stirred everyone's interest.

With Zhao Zhijing crippled, the position of leader of these three generations of disciples has become vacant. The future leader of the Quanzhen Sect will have to be decided sooner or later.

"I think Zhiping is quite good," Liu Chuxuan said. "Zhiping is calm and composed, respects his teachers, and has the seniority and experience to back him up. Although he was a bit timid this time, that's only human nature. With a little more training, he'll be a good candidate for maintaining the status quo."

"Maintain the status quo?" Wang Chuyi scoffed. "In this world, can we even hold on? If Huo Du were to lead another large army to invade, would we expect Yin Zhiping to kneel and beg for mercy?"

Sun Bu'er frowned: "What does Senior Brother mean?"

"I think Yang Guo is more suitable." A glint of shrewdness flashed in Wang Chu's eyes. "Although this kid is wicked, his ruthlessness is exactly what we lack. Chaotic times require harsh measures, and times of great strife require a hegemon. Yang Guo has the means, the cunning, and the martial arts skills. If he were to take charge of Quanzhen, how could we not recreate the glory of Patriarch Chongyang?"

"No!" Sun Bu'er objected resolutely. "This boy is wicked and acts eccentrically. If he becomes the leader, won't the Quanzhen Sect turn into a demonic sect?"

"Junior Sister, you are mistaken," Qiu Chuji stroked his beard. "Although Guo'er acts unconventionally, he is upright in his principles. If he truly harbored rebellious intentions the other day, he could have simply watched us be killed; why did he have to intervene?"

"He just wants to show off!"

"Alright, stop arguing." Ma Yu rubbed her temples, feeling a bit of a headache.

The two sides were deadlocked.

One faction is the conservatives, who support Yin Zhiping and seek stability.

One faction is the radicals, who are optimistic about Yang Guo and seek change.

It's like an aging empire struggling in the face of a transition between the old and the new.

"Let's discuss this matter again," Ma Yu sighed, gazing at the deep night sky outside the main hall.

Where should the Quanzhen School of Taoism go from here?